Just finished up a six day work week. I spent three of those days covering a drowning. Here's a day by day breakdown.
Sunday: We first learned that someone may be in the water Sunday evening. I had just wrapped up the shoot for a story I was working on when I got a call from our producer. It was one of those situations where we didn't have much info so I quickly headed to the site to figure out what was going on. Ended up turning a package about the basics - someone is in the water, rescue turned into recovery, calling off recovery for tonight because it's too dangerous.
Monday: I got to the station early to follow up with the sargent I spoke with on Sunday. Their plan was debrief at 9 and head out to the water at 10. I met them at the site as they continued their recovery effort. It really helped that I was there the day before, actually we were the only media there on Sunday. I knew who to talk to and where to go. I also had another advantage, the victim's friends had seen me there too. Understandably, they didn't want to talk, or at least do a formal interview. Luckily, they were able to share their story with me and let me get sound off the shot gun mic. Divers located the body by mid-afternoon. My story for the day was reaction from friends, the same friends that were swimming when their friend went under and didn't come back up.
Tuesday: The day after they found the body there were still more questions. The teen who drowned was swimming in an area called Cedar Lake or some simply called it the old gravel pit. I wanted to check on the number of drownings, the history of the lake and if anyone should swim there in the first place. The story I ended up with was a little different. I interviewed the sheriff's department for the basics and I also set up an interview with the drain commissioner because he knew a lot about the area. Seems straightforward until the sheriff's deparment said the area was dangerous, then the drain commissioner said people should swim there. If conflict makes a good story I would say this piece had it.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Show and Tell: Clunkers
I haven't blogged since GM filed for bankruptcy, how appropriate that I decided to blog today since I just did another story about cars. Although, this story was about potentially good news for the auto industry. The "Cash for Clunkers Program" would give incentives to turn in a car that is bad on gas and not worth a whole lot - hence the name clunker. I had pitched this story idea three weeks ago before the bill had passed in the House or Senate. Now it just needs a signature from President Obama.
The obvious angle would be to find someone with a clunker they wanted to turn in. I ended up doing the story as more of an explainer with the dealer's perspective. Really, I didn't have a lot to work with so it was important to make it interesting. I knew it would be tiring listening to one guy from the dealer promote the program. I wanted to break up his bites with an explanation of what makes a clunker. To do this I did a multi-part stand up with a grease maker. I needed multiple shots to keep it visual. I also needed to sequence, sequence, sequence. I wrote the four points I wanted to get across on different parts of a van so I could keep moving.
When I edited all the pieces together the stand up was 26 seconds. Seems long but I'm pretty happy with how it came out. I also think it fit well into the overall story.
The obvious angle would be to find someone with a clunker they wanted to turn in. I ended up doing the story as more of an explainer with the dealer's perspective. Really, I didn't have a lot to work with so it was important to make it interesting. I knew it would be tiring listening to one guy from the dealer promote the program. I wanted to break up his bites with an explanation of what makes a clunker. To do this I did a multi-part stand up with a grease maker. I needed multiple shots to keep it visual. I also needed to sequence, sequence, sequence. I wrote the four points I wanted to get across on different parts of a van so I could keep moving.
When I edited all the pieces together the stand up was 26 seconds. Seems long but I'm pretty happy with how it came out. I also think it fit well into the overall story.
Monday, June 1, 2009
GM Files for Bankruptcy
GM, one of the Big Three American auto makers filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If you're from Michigan you probably know it is a day many thought to be unthinkable. Not because it is painful but because it just couldn't happen... until today. People here live and breathe cars. It seems like everyone knows someone who knows someone who has something to do with the auto industry. To say it's a big deal wouldn't do it justice.
As a reporter I feel honored to do my little part in covering this historic story - a story that doesn't have an ending yet. The scary thing for Michiganians is not knowing what this exactly means. What does it mean for auto dealers or suppliers? What about employees and retirees? What does it mean for the state budget deficit or an unemployment rate that's already greater than 12%?
Chrysler filed for bankruptcy on April 30th and look where GM is just over one month later. The Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings are said to be going smoothly. Today the court granted approval to let Chrysler sell assets to Fiat. On the other hand a GM bankruptcy could be seen as more complicated because it is a larger company with more overseas operations.
For me this entire process will be about watching it unfold. I think there are a lot of questions to be answered today and in the next few days. I also think because of the scale and magnitude of this event we might not yet know the full ramifications.
Lastly I wanted to list some notes & numbers I wrote down throughout the day.
Previous GM break even point 16 million, new break even point 10 million (car sales)
MI Facilities - GM closing 5 plants and idling 2 more causing the state to lose 8,646 jobs
82 billion in assets, 172 billion in debt
Fed lending could total 50 billion
New ownership percentages: government 60%, Canada 12.5%, UAW 17.5%, Bondholders 10%
As a reporter I feel honored to do my little part in covering this historic story - a story that doesn't have an ending yet. The scary thing for Michiganians is not knowing what this exactly means. What does it mean for auto dealers or suppliers? What about employees and retirees? What does it mean for the state budget deficit or an unemployment rate that's already greater than 12%?
Chrysler filed for bankruptcy on April 30th and look where GM is just over one month later. The Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings are said to be going smoothly. Today the court granted approval to let Chrysler sell assets to Fiat. On the other hand a GM bankruptcy could be seen as more complicated because it is a larger company with more overseas operations.
For me this entire process will be about watching it unfold. I think there are a lot of questions to be answered today and in the next few days. I also think because of the scale and magnitude of this event we might not yet know the full ramifications.
Lastly I wanted to list some notes & numbers I wrote down throughout the day.
Previous GM break even point 16 million, new break even point 10 million (car sales)
MI Facilities - GM closing 5 plants and idling 2 more causing the state to lose 8,646 jobs
82 billion in assets, 172 billion in debt
Fed lending could total 50 billion
New ownership percentages: government 60%, Canada 12.5%, UAW 17.5%, Bondholders 10%
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